Floodlight



Nova 8, 1966 B. MOORE 3,284,621

FLOODLIGHT Filed Nov. 30, 1964 flu 6 M0 0 r a [N VEN'TOR.

ATTOH/VEVJ United States Patent 3,284,621 FLOODLIGHT Buell Moore, Houston, Tex., assignor to Esquire, Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed Nov. 30, 1964, Ser. No. 414,671 4 Claims. (Cl. 2403) This invention relates generally to improvements in a fl-oodlight of the general type shown in US. Patent No. 3,001,060, wherein a lamp is mounted in an upright position within a case intermediate a reflecting surface across the back of the case and opening across the front of the case.

In the particular floodlight shown in this patent, the lower end of the lamp is connected to an electrical socket in the bottom :of the case, and a cylindrical protuberance on the upper end of the lamp fits closely within a correspondingly shaped nonelectrical socket on the top of the case to hold the lamp properly aligned with respect to the reflecting surface. The nonelectrical socket comprises a cylindrical metal body which is lined with asbestos to insulate it from the heat of the lamp, which may be as great as 600 F. While the nonelectrical socket holds the lamp firmly at its upper end, the asbestos lining also serves as a cushion against vibrations common to most industrial areas which might otherwise cause the lamp to be broken off at its neck adjacent the electrical socket.

More recently, there has been developed and introduced to the market a lamp of somewhat dilferent shape in that it has a cylindrical recess rather than a protuberance at its upper end, and it is the object of this invention to provide a floodlight for supporting this new lamp in much the same manner that the prior lamp is supported.

A more particular object is to provide a floodlight in which the new lamp is supported at both ends in such a manner as to maintain it aligned with respect to the re-. fleeting surface, while at the same time insulating it and cushioning it against vibrations.

Other objects, advantages and features of this invention will be apparent to one skilled in the art upon a consideration of the written specification, the attached claims and the annexed drawings.

In the drawings wherein like reference characters are used throughout to designate like parts:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a floodlight constructed in accordance with the present invention and during assembly of the lamp into supported position between an electrical socket at its lower end and a guide post on the top of the case which fits within the recess at its upper end;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of the floodlight of FIG. 1, as seen along broken line 2-2 of FIG. 1 and with the recess in the upper end of the lamp fitted over the guide post; and

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the parts of the guide post separated from one another.

Referring now to the details of the above-described drawings, the floodlight comprises a case 11 made up of upper and lower members 12 and 13 having flanges 12a and 13a, respectively, which are bolted together, as shown in FIG. 2, to define a top 14, bottom 15 and back 16 for the case. There is a reflective surface 21 across the back of the case, and a lens 17 across the open front side of the case opposite the reflective surface so as to enclose the interior of the case. The lens is held in place and sealed about its edges by frame 18 bolted or other wise secured across flanges 19 about the forward edges of case members 12 and 13.

Lamp 20 is supported at its lower end in an electrical socket 22 in the bottom 15 of the case to dispose it in a generally upright position intermediate the reflective surface 21 and the lens 17. As can be seen from FIGS. 1 and 2, this reflective surface is made up of a plurality of reflective strips which are curved concavely both about a vertical axis as well as about a horizontal axis so as to reflect a broad band of light from lamp 20. The back of the case may be correspondingly curved so as to fit closely about the back surface of the reflective strips. These strips may be constructed and mounted within slots in the top and bottom of the case in the manner shown and described in US. Patent No. 3,001,061.

As best shown in FIG. 2, there is a sheet. 23 of reflective material on the top 14 of the case and a sheet 24 of reflective material on the bottom 15 of the case, so that substantially all of the interior surfaces of the case are reflective. As also shown in FIG. 2, the flanges 19 about the open front end of the case turned outwardly, and the inner edge of the frame 18 is coextensive with the inwardly facing reflective surface of sheets 23 and 24 so as to provide a full opening for reflected light through the lens 17.

There is an opening 25 in the bottom 15 of the case and a matching opening 26 through the reflective sheet 24 to pass the lamp 20. The electrical socket 22, which may be of the conventional screw in type, is carried in the lower end of a well 27 having a flange which is removably connected to the bottom of the case about the openings 25 and 26 by means of bolts 28 or the like. Thus, as will be obvious from a comparison of FIGS. 1 and 2, the lamp 20 may be moved with the well 27 into and out of assembly within the floodlight case. An electrical conduit 22a extends from the socket through the well for connection to a power source.

As best shown in FIG. 1, the lamp for which the floodlight 10 of the present invention is designed has a cylindrical recess 29 in its upper end. It is offered to the public by the General Electric Company as the E Mercury Lamp. It is presently available in and 250- watt sizes, and the manufacturer indicates that it will be available in 400-watt sizes.

In accordance with the present invention, this lamp 20 is held in an upright position by means of a cylindrical post 30 mounted on the top 14 of the case and in alignment with the opening 25 through the bottom of the case so as to fit closely within the lamp recess 29 as the lamp is moved upwardly into the case. As best shown in FIG. 3, this post includes a metal pin 31 which extends downwardly from the top of the case and a layer 32 of asbestos or like material adapted to be disposed about the, pin for insulating the lamp from the pin and cushion it against vibrations. As also shown in FIG. 3, there is a threaded opening 33 in the upper end of pin 31 to receive a threaded bolt 34 which extends through the top of the case and sheet 23, as shown in FIG. 2, so as to hold the pin in its vertically extended position.

The pin 31 has a slot 34 in its lower end, and the layer 32 of heat insulating and cushioning material has its opposite ends 35 turned in so as to provide a flange which fits into the slot as the layer 32 is moved upwardly over the lower end of the pin 31. The two ends 35 of the layer 32 are slightly thicker than the width of the slot 34 so that they must be compressed somewhat as they move up into the slot 34. This of course will help to retain the layer about the pin in the event the lamp 20 is removed or replaced. Thus, since the outer surface of the layer 32 fits closely within the lamp recess 29, there will be some frictional engagement between the two which will tend to pull the layer downwardly from the lower end of the pin 31.

Normally, however, it will also be necessary to cement the layer to the pin, and this presents a distinct problem due to the heat of the mercury lamp which may be as high as 600 F. One silicon type cement which will withstand this heat is manufactured by the Dow Corning Corporation and known as RTV. Even this type of cement will give off a white vapor when exposed to this heat, and if a large amount of this vapor becomes deposited on the lens or the reflector, the efficiency of the lamp would be seriously impaired. Due to the abovedescribed tight fit of the flange of the layer within the slot of the pin 31, only a small amount of the cement must be used so that only a corresponding amount of vapor is formed. Furthermore, this cement is disposed between the adjacent surfaces of the flange and the slot so that it is as far from the surface of the lamp as possible. Thus, I have found it possible to keep this vapor to a minimum and thereby avoid impairing its efficiency.

Preferably, the layer 32 is longer in a vertical direction than is the slot 34 so that it extends a short distance below the lower end of the pin 31 to form a protective skirt which prevents the lamp from direct contact with the lower end of the pin. As can also be seen from the drawings, the slot 34 and the layer 32 disposed about it extend over a major portion of the length of the pin 31. As described in my prior Patent No. 3,001,060, this insulation of the relatively cold metal parts of the floodlight from the hot surface of the lamp insures against breakage of the lamp.

In the preferred form of the invention, the layer 32 of asbestos or other suitable material is a cloth which is woven to a width corresponding to the height of the layer. Thus, the only cut edges of the cloth are on the ends 35 which are turned inwardly into the slot 34 of the pin 31 so that they will not be rubbed by the recess 29 of the lamp. Obviously although the term layer has been used in describing the outer surface of the post provided by the heat insulating and cushioning material, there may be additional layers within the one shown.

Since the guide post is mounted on the top of the case in substantial alignment with the opening 25 through the bottom of the case, the recess 29 in the upper end of the lamp is automatically fitted over the post as the lamp is moved upwardly through the opening. Thus, to complete the assembly of the floodlight, the well 27 is merely secured to the bottom'of the case by the bolts 28. Alternatively, of course, the socket 22 in which the lower end of the lamp 20 is supported may be fixedly secured to the bottom of the case, and the guide post may be secured to a removable portion of the top of the case. In this event, of course, the guide post would be moved downwardly into the lamp recess 29 as the portion of the top of the case on which it is carried is moved downwardly for connection to the remainder of the top of the case.

As shown in FIG. 1, the floodlight is mounted upon a standard 36 comprising a yoke 37 mounted on the upper end of a post 38. The upper ends of the yoke 37 pivotally support opposite sides of the case 11 so that the floodlight may be tilted about a horizontal axis. The lower end of the yoke includes a sleeve 39 having set screws 40 or the like for releasably securing it over the upper end of the post 38. Thus, these screws may be backed off and then retightened to permit the sleeve 39 and thus the floodlight to 'be swung about a vertical axis.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that this invention is one well adapted to attain all of the ends and objects hereinabove set forth, together with other advantages which are obvious and which are inherent to the apparatus.

It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subc-ombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of the claims.

As many possible embodiments may be made of the invention without departing from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matters herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

The invention having been described, what is claimed is:

1. A floodlight, comprising a case having a top and bottom and an opening in one side, a reflecting surface in the case opposite the opening therein, an electrical socket in the bottom of the case for mounting a lamp in an upright position intermediate the reflecting surface and the opening in the case, a pin extending downwardly from the top of the case and having a slot across its lower end, and a layer of heat insulating and cushioning material disposed about the pin for fitting closely within a recess in the upper end of the lamp and having its free ends turned into the slot.

2. Apparatus of the character defined in claim 1, wherein there is cement between only the adjacent surfaces of the free ends of the layer and said slot.

3. Apparatus of the character defined in claim 1, wherein said layer comprises woven cloth which is out only along its free ends.

4. Apparatus of the character defined in claim 1, wherein the layer depends a short distance below the lower end of the pin.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,756,384 7/1956 Meyer 240-ll.4 XR 2,892,992 6/1959 Ingraham 240-l1.4 XR 3,001,060 9/1961 Moore 240--3 NORTON ANSHER, Primary Examiner. 

1. A FLOODLIGHT, COMPRISING A CASE HAVING A TOP AND BOTTOM AND AN OPENING IN ONE SIDE, A REFLECTING SURFACE IN THE CASE OPPOSITE THE OPENING THEREIN, AN ELECTRICAL SOCKET IN THE BOTTOM OF THE CASE FOR MOUNTING A LAMP IN AN UPRIGHT POSITION INTERMEDIATE THE REFLECTING SURFACE AND THE OPENING IN THE CASE, A PIN EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY FROM THE TOP OF THE CASE AND HAVING A SLOT ACROSS ITS LOWER END, AND A LAYER OF HEAT INSULATING AND CUSHIONING MATERIAL DISPOSED ABOUT THE PIN FOR FITTING CLOSELY WITHIN A RECESS IN THE UPPER END OF THE LAMP AND HAVING ITS FREE ENDS TURNED INTO THE SLOT. 